# Sayaka Yoshino

Sayaka Yoshino (吉野 紗香, Yoshino Sayaka) (born 14 May 1982) is a Japanese actress, model, and television personality. One of the first popular teen models / idols known in Japan as "Chaidoru" (a word play on child and idol), she has appeared in numerous TV dramas, commercials, and films.

## Early life

Born in Tokyo and raised in both Tokyo and Chiba, Yoshino as a child wondered how children appeared on TV programs, until she learnt that to be cast she would need to a talent agency / agent. Without her parents foreknowledge, she sent out applications (including a school yearbook photograph of herself) to agencies advertised in newspapers until one responded with a request to meet and interview in person. As a young girl not able to travel to the meeting alone, Yoshino informed her mother and was escorted to the agency interview of which she was later offered to join.

## Career

Yoshino began her career in 1994 after being selected in a public audition by a talent agency that she applied herself. After gaining popularity as a model appearing in fashion magazines, winning reader polled contests, and being cast in spoken roles for television commercials, she was cast in the first feature film Maborosi by film director Koreeda Hirokazu. At about the same time she began appearing as a guest actress on television drama's and started to take on more extended roles in other feature films. Yoshino was cast in character designer and director Keita Amemiya's fantasy - action film, Moon Over Tao and again in Koreeda's second feature film, After Life, of which garnered critical acclaim both in Japan and abroad. Yoshino's growing popularity defined a new phenomenon, as a young multi-faceted idol, which the media coined "Chaidol" (combining the words "child" and "idol").

## Personal life

Yoshino is known as an avid dog lover and animal rights advocate. She has participated in charity events promoting social awareness of dog shelters and independently promoted animal rights through her webcast show "Hello From Earth" focusing on dog shelters seeking to find foster families. Yoshino has also used her webcast show to focus on Fair Trade and has participated in public Fair Trade events. She has also shared that she is currently developing her own ethical / sustainable fashion brand.
Since Yoshino had not finished her high school studies due to difficulty juggling her commitments as an actress / TV personality and a student, she later worked to complete the requirements to receive the Certificate for Students Achieving the Proficiency Level of Upper Secondary School Graduates (similar to the GED in the United States). Throughout her studies, she publicly shared her progress and personal feelings on the subject on her internet blog, and successfully received the certificate of completion of Upper Secondary School Graduates (High School) and made news headlines.
In 2012, it was announced that Yoshino had married her partner / boyfriend (a U.S. citizen) in 2010.
In April 2017, it was announced Yoshino held a wedding ceremony after having registered her union with her husband 7 years before. Images of her as a bride and a message of gratitude was made public.
On 20 March 2021, she announced on her blog that she gave birth to their first child, a baby boy on 15 February.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1995 | Maborosi | Young Yumiko (Teenage Girl) |
| 1996 | Jigoku-do Reikai Tsushin | Kana Azuki (Teenager with pet sacred beast) |
| 1997 | Moon Over Tao | Renge (Teenage Ninja Combatant) |
| 1998 | After Life | Kana Yoshino (Teenage Girl) |
| 2000 | Boogie Pop and Others | Touka Miyashita / Boogie Pop (School Girl/Grim Reeper) |
| 2002 | Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger Shushutto The Movie | Princess Laina (Extraterrestrial Princess) |
| 2004 | The Big Slaughter Club: The Final Slaughter | Misato (Telekinetic School Girl) |
| 2006 | Tannka | Special Appearance / Cameo |
| 2007 | trash words SKIP CITY INTERNATIONAL D-Cinema FESTIVAL, Short Film Nominee | Naomi (College Office Worker) |
| 2008 | Wakuraba Nagarete (Rolling Stone) | Teco (Cafe Waitress) |
| 2008 | Tokyo Neo Mahiya (1-3) | Sona (Korean Gang Member) |
| 2008 | Aihyôka: Chimanako (Cursed Songs: The Bloodshot) | Kaya (Marine Researcher) |
| 2008 | Immoral | Kaneko Kazuhara (Police Sergeant) |
| 2008 | Kiseki no Umi (The Ocean of Miracles) | Akemi (School Teacher) |
| 2009 | Aihyôka: Numeri (Cursed Songs: The Book Of The New Spawn) | Kaya (Marine Researcher) |
| 2010 | The Coach: 40 Year-Old Figure Skater | Sanae Katagiri (Ice Skater) |
| 2013 | Zeus no Houtei (Court of Zeus) | Zuzumoto (business woman / character witness) |
| 2014 | Nôka no yome: Anata ni aitakute (Farmer's Bride: Wanting to See You) | Kei (Bar Hostess) |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1995 | Juukou B-Fighter | Mina | Episode 16 / TV Asahi |
| 1995 | Papa Survival | | TBS |
| 1995 | Heart ni S | | Episode 19 "Doctor" / Fuji Televsision |
| 1995 | Mokuyono Kaidan・Kaiki Club | | Fuji Televsision |
| 1995 | Ninshin desuyo 2 | | Fuji Televsision |
| 1996 | Shori no Megami | Ryoko Okamoto | Fuji Televsision |
| 1996 | Tokyo 23 Ku no Onna, Meguroku no Onnai | | Fuji Televsision |
| 1996 | Yonimo Kimyona Monogatari, Autumn 96' Special: Kabe no Shosetsu | | Fuji Televsision |
| 1996 | Fuyuno Hotaru | | NHK |
| 1997 | Shin-D "Too Young!! | | Nihon Televsision |
| 1997 | TV Novel: Aguri | Machiko Yamaoka | NHK |
| 1997 | Sorega Kotaeda! | Noriko Ishihara | Fuji Televsision |
| 1998 | Days | Yuriko Takeuchi | Fuji Televsision |
| 1998 | Shonen・15: Kireteshimatta Kokoro Sakebi | | TV Asahi |
| 1998 | Shonentachi | Rika | NHK |
| 1999 | Seven Samurai, J-ke no hanran | | Episode 7 / Asahi Broadcast |
| 2000 | Kino no Teki wa kyono Tomo | Miki Ogawa | NHK |
| 2000-2001 | Tekkouki Mikazuki | Luna Tical | Fuji Televsision |
| 2001 | Kochira Daisan Syakaibu | Mei Kikuhara | TBS |
| 2002 | Moshichino Jikenbo Fushigisoushi | Oshino | NHK |
| 2002 | Shio Karubi | | Episode 2 / TV Kanagawa & Kyoto Broadcast |
| 2003 | Onyado Kawasemi | | NHK |
| 2004 | Reikan Bus Guide Jikenbo | Yumi Toda | Episode 10 / TV Asahi |
| 2005 | Mito Kōmon | | Episode 35 / TBS |
| 2006 | Tsunagareta Ashita | Akemi Nakamichi | NHK |
| 2006 | Kaikan Shokunin | Chiharu Harajima | Episode 5 / TV Asahi |
| 2006 | Tobosha Orin | Mai | Episode 4 / TV Tokyo |
| 2007 | Kagerō no Tsuji Inemuri Iwane Edo Zōshi | Okane | Episode 6 / NHK |
| 2008 | Mitsumei Kangetusumigiri | Oyu | Episode 2 & 5 / TV Tokyo |
| 2008 | Otome | Masayo | Episode 40 / TV Asahi |
| 2008 | Kippari!! | Kasumi Yamada | Episode 10-24 / TBS |
| 2010 | Hanchô: Jinnansho Azumihan | Saori Yuki | Season 3, Episode 7 / TBS |
| 2012 | Garo: Makai Senki | Spell Master Mio | Episode 19 / TBS |
| 2012 | Don't Shoot Me Mr! - Untold Stories of Gravure Models | Sayaka Yoshino | Episode 7 / TV Tokyo |

### Video Games & Animation

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1999 | Momotarou Dentetsu V | Appears as herself | Hudson |
| 2005 | Grandia III | Dana (Voice) | Square Enix |
| 2008 | Michiko & Hatchin | Rita Ozzetti (Voice) | Fuji TV Affiliate |

### Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1998 | Big -dreams come true- | Cynthia | a Fuji Television 40 Anniversary Production |
| 1998 | S.C.NANSHO Flag-Raising Performance: Funk-a-Step | Sayaka Yoshino (herself) | a Fuji Television & Nippon Broadcasting Production |
| 2003 | Netorare Sosuke | Suzuko | Written by Kōhei Tsuka, Directed by Ginnojô Yamazaki |
| 2004 | Akane Sora | Okimi | Shinbashi Enbujō Performance, Written by Ichiriki Yamamoto, Directed by Toru Emori |
| 2006 | Tokyo Toshindai -her daily extra-ordinaries- | Maiko | a Spacecraft Group Production |
| 2006 | Angel Gate -Premonition of Spring- | Mami | Written &, Directed by Yoshikazu Yokoyama, a Fuji TV & Tokyo FM Production |
| 2007 | Teo Agero! Kenko Gotoda | Asuka | Tsunku Town Theater 2nd Performance / a TNX Production |
| 2007 | Angel Gate | Mami | Written &, Directed by Sayaka Asai, a Fuji TV Production |
| 2007 | Arashi no Yoru ni | Mei | Written by Yuuichi Kimura, Directed by Yoshikazu Yokoyama, a Baku Enterprise Production |
| 2008 | Hanabana shiki Ichizoku | Kyoko Hiyoshi | Written by Kaoru Morimoto, Directed by Fukuko Ishii, a TV Asahi & CAT Production |
| 2009 | Romantic Life | Mariya Nakagami (a Transgender Female) | Written by Akie Yoshikawa, Directed by Hirokazu Yamaguchi, a Butchy Musha Production |
| 2009 | Tokyo Alice | Liliko Otoichi | Written by Chiya Toriko, Directed by Ayako Ooki, a Upfront & Spacecraft Production |
| 2010 | Hanabana shiki Ichizoku | Kyoko Hiyoshi | Director Fukuko Ishii, a Nippon Broadcasting & CAT Production |
| 2011 | Ekoda Sketch | Time Traveller | Writer & Director Kaoru Asakura, a Bunka Tsushin 60th Anniversary Production |
| 2015 | Kurokute Akai Hana | Akemi | Writer & Director Kazushige Itoh, Theater Green Production |